Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly in January

The Massachusetts unemployment rate dipped slightly in January, from 7.1 percent to 6.8 percent, though the state’s economy lost 4,500 jobs that month and the unemployment rate remains higher than the national average rate of 6.6 percent.

According to the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Massachusetts’ trade, transportation and utilities sector lost the most jobs in January (6,700), while jobs were also lost in the government; professional, scientific and business services; and manufacturing sectors.